Podcast 106: 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag

The 3 Guys Podcast

Recorded on 3/23/2023

Meet Tommy Spinelli. He’s got two days to deliver this bag, or more heads are gonna roll. This week are reviewing the movie “8 Heads in a Duffel Bag” starring Joe Pesci, Kristy Swanson, David Spade and directed by Tom Schulman. WARNING: There will be SPOILERS!

The 3 Guys Rating

1.3/5

Notes From The Show

  • Quick Synopsis

  • Released: April 18, 1997

    Directed By: Tom Schulman

    Written By: Tom Schulman

    Music By: Andrew Gross

    Cinematography By: Adam Holender

    Stars: Joe Pesci, Kristy Swanson, David Spade, George Hamilton, Dyan Cannon, Andy Comeau, Todd Louiso and a bunch of other actors.

    Plot: A mob bagman finds that his luggage, containing the proof of his gang’s latest hit, has been switched.

    Taglines:  Meet Tommy Spinelli. He’s got two days to deliver this bag, or more heads are gonna roll.

    How did this movie do?
    Budget: $3 Million
    Box Office: $4 Million

  • Casting

    • Will Smith was offered the role of Ernie. Although the studio offered US $10,000,000 for the role, Smith turned it down. The part then went to David Spade, presumably for a lower price.

    • In a 2019 interview, David Spade apologized for having been a part of the movie. Spade also admitted that he didn’t read the screenplay before signing on to do the film. He just saw that Tom Schulman, who Spade knew had written Dead Poets Society (1989) and won an Academy Award for it, was writing and directing, and assumed the movie would be good.

    • Damon Wayans had initially signed on to play the lead, but dropped out of the film just a few weeks before shooting.
  • Trivia

    • The La Purisima Hotel in this movie is a real hotel located in La Paz, Mexico. It is allegedly haunted, and was later featured on Ghost Adventures: La Purisima Mission (2009).

    • Joe Pesci is fitted with a dental prosthetic featuring a gap tooth.

    • The eight heads in the movie were also showcased at this film’s premiere in Hollywood.

    • Tom Schulman’s directorial debut. It would remain Schulman’s only directorial effort until Double Down South (2022) 25 years later.

    • The first of two films in which Joe Pesci acted in 1997. Gone Fishin’ (1997) would be released later that year. Both films performed poorly at the domestic and international box office.

    • The first movie in which Joe Pesci shared screen time with a former Saturday Night Live (1975) cast member, who in this case was David Spade. A year later, he would act alongside former SNL player Chris Rock in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).

Released: April 18, 1997

Directed By: Tom Schulman

Written By: Tom Schulman

Music By: Andrew Gross

Cinematography By: Adam Holender

Stars: Joe Pesci, Kristy Swanson, David Spade, George Hamilton, Dyan Cannon, Andy Comeau, Todd Louiso and a bunch of other actors.

Plot: A mob bagman finds that his luggage, containing the proof of his gang’s latest hit, has been switched.

Taglines:  Meet Tommy Spinelli. He’s got two days to deliver this bag, or more heads are gonna roll.

How did this movie do?
Budget: $3 Million
Box Office: $4 Million

  • Will Smith was offered the role of Ernie. Although the studio offered US $10,000,000 for the role, Smith turned it down. The part then went to David Spade, presumably for a lower price.

  • In a 2019 interview, David Spade apologized for having been a part of the movie. Spade also admitted that he didn’t read the screenplay before signing on to do the film. He just saw that Tom Schulman, who Spade knew had written Dead Poets Society (1989) and won an Academy Award for it, was writing and directing, and assumed the movie would be good.

  • Damon Wayans had initially signed on to play the lead, but dropped out of the film just a few weeks before shooting.
  • The La Purisima Hotel in this movie is a real hotel located in La Paz, Mexico. It is allegedly haunted, and was later featured on Ghost Adventures: La Purisima Mission (2009).

  • Joe Pesci is fitted with a dental prosthetic featuring a gap tooth.

  • The eight heads in the movie were also showcased at this film’s premiere in Hollywood.

  • Tom Schulman’s directorial debut. It would remain Schulman’s only directorial effort until Double Down South (2022) 25 years later.

  • The first of two films in which Joe Pesci acted in 1997. Gone Fishin’ (1997) would be released later that year. Both films performed poorly at the domestic and international box office.

  • The first movie in which Joe Pesci shared screen time with a former Saturday Night Live (1975) cast member, who in this case was David Spade. A year later, he would act alongside former SNL player Chris Rock in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).

About The Movie From IMDB

8 Heads in a Duffel Bag | April 18, 1997 (United States) 5.4
Director: Tom SchulmanWriter: Tom SchulmanStars: Joe Pesci, Andy Comeau, Kristy SwansonSummary:

Photos


See all photos >>

Videos


See all videos >>

Cast

...
Tommy
...
Charlie
...
Laurie Bennett
...
Dick Bennett
...
Annette Bennett
...
Ernie
...
Steve
...
Rico
...
Benny
...
Fern
...
Paco
...
Big Sep
...
Head of Hugo
...
Head of Marty
...
Head of Jamal
...
Head of Little Joey
...
Head of Frank
...
Head of Isaiah

See full cast >>

Countries: United States, United KingdomLanguages: English, SpanishBudget: $3,000,000 (estimated)

Note: All images are property of their respected owners and used for editorial purposes.

8 Heads in a Duffel Bag | April 18, 1997 (United States) Summary: A mob bagman finds that his luggage, containing the proof of his gang's latest hit, has been switched.
Countries: United States, United KingdomLanguages: English, Spanish

Quotes

Tommy Spinelli: Alright, grab all the heads. Just leave the top one.

Ernie: Why?

Tommy Spinelli: Because the top one doesn't look like anybody and Big Sep will never buy it. Now come on.

Steve: Wait a minute. I sawed off this head and you're not even gonna use it?

Ernie: Steve, chill.

Steve: No, you chill. I spent alot of time on this head. Don't you think you could have at least told me this before I cut it off?

[Tommy slaps him in back of the head]

Ernie: Ooh. I saw that coming.

Tommy Spinelli: Don't ever fuck with a guy looking for heads.


Ernie: I think we better pull over, 'cause we need some gas soon.

Tommy Spinelli: Keep fucking driving.

Fern: Didn't I tell you to watch your fucking language?


Tommy Spinelli: I need a flight to Bethesda University.

Ticket Taker: I'm not sure the university has its own airport. But we can fly you to Baltimore, will that do?

Tommy Spinelli: Hey, don't get cute with me, asshole, huh?


Tommy Spinelli: Where's Charlie?

Fern: Who are you?

Tommy Spinelli: I asked you a question, where the fuck is Charlie?

Fern: And I asked you a question, who the fuck are you?


Annette: You hid those heads in our room, then pinned them on my Dick! =


Ernie: Are you telling us that you're gonna find a replacement for the head Charlie lost?

Tommy Spinelli: [looks through a year book] Yeah. We got some time to kill before we go to the airport.

Steve: But these are human beings. Innocent people. You can't just kill innocent people because they look like somebody else.

Tommy Spinelli: Let me tell you something, college boy, nobody is innocent.

[picks a person in the book]

Tommy Spinelli: Now who is he?

Steve: He's my anatomy professor. He almost flunked me.

Tommy Spinelli: Good. Here's your chance to get even with the prick. Get me his address.

Steve: Alrighty.


Annette: [goes to back of van to lie down and sees head] Oh my God! AAH! AHH! Another head! Oh my God! Help! Help!

Tommy Spinelli: Lady, lady, shut up!

Annette: I can't stand it! I'm losing my mind! Everywhere I look, there are heads! AAAAA!

Tommy Spinelli: Shut up lady, Jesus Christ! You're not the only person on the planet with problems, OK? Shut it! Jesus, what a head case.

Fern: Is that supposed to be a JOKE? Killer humor?


Annette: [to Tommy] Thank you again for getting rid of Fern.

Laurie: [apalled] Mom!

Tommy Spinelli: The going rate is five thou, but you could owe me, lady.


Paramedic: What? What are you... Don't kick it! For God's sake, those are live human organs!

Tommy Spinelli: Trust me, pal, they don't feel it.


Rico: Show me the law on bringing a head out of the country, huh? It ain't a fruit, it ain't a vegetable, it ain't even a plant goddamit!


Steve: Heads up! Stop a-head. Anybody need to use the head?

Ernie: Steve...

Steve: Oh, don't let it go to your head. Whoa, whoa, whoa, you're WAY ahead of me!

Ernie: Steve! Enough!

Steve: Hey, don't bite my head off, alright!

Ernie: That's it. I'm sleeping outside, guys.

Annette: Me, too.

Charlie: Hey, Steve, GET A GRIP. Go to sleep.

Steve: Or what? You'll have my head?


Ernie: Tell me if this sounds like a phone hanging up.

[Hangs up phone]

Tommy Spinelli: Yeah... SHIT!


Benny: You do that and Big Sep kills us all.

Charlie: Fuck Big Sep!


[Laurie hides in the closet]

Charlie: Laurie, you're not in the hallway. You're in the closet.

Laurie: Don't you think I realize that? I'm not coming out!

Charlie: Laurie.

Laurie: I'm not!

Charlie: You have to come out.

Laurie: No.

Charlie: The bodies are in there.

[Laurie runs out screaming]

Charlie: I was just kidding!


Steve: This is like grave robbing - grave robbing. Or worse.

Ernie: I don't see any graves. Do you see any graves?

Tommy Spinelli: [Cocks gun] There's going to be two fresh ones right now if you don't start looking for heads. Come on.


Tommy Spinelli: Look, I don't want to have to put you kids through hell so let me tell you what's going to happen. First I'm gonna hurt you. Then you're gonna try to be brave. Then I'm gonna hurt you again, then you're gonna tell me everything.


Laurie: Nana, they tortured him.

Fern: So what? A little castor oil down his gullet.

Annette: Uh!

Fern: A little electricity on his dillywhacker.

Annette: Uh!

Fern: Cat piss.


Steve: No, please don't. I fly! I fly!

Tommy Spinelli: What are you, a fairy?


Ernie: Okay, let's review: you've got a Hugo, a Little Joey, a Frank, a bad Stu...

Tommy Spinelli: No, bad Frank.

Ernie: That's what I said.

Tommy Spinelli: No you didn't. You said bad Stu. Stu was just so-so.

Ernie: No, sir, I said a so-so Stu.

Tommy Spinelli: You did not. You said bad Stu!

Ernie: Yes I did and everybody heard! I said a so-so Stu!

Tommy Spinelli: You said bad Stu!

Ernie: I know the names and you don't...

[Arguing continues]

Steve: Would you two stop it, goddammit! These are not baseball cards we're talking about here. These are heads! Human beings' heads!


Ernie: This university has the largest cryonics facility in the country. They've got hundreds of frozen heads.

Tommy Spinelli: Why do they got hundreds of frozen heads?

Ernie: [sarcastically] I think for, uh, situations like this.

Tommy Spinelli: Hey don't be a little smart ass, you!

Ernie: Look, they have them because people feel that maybe in a couple hundred years, we can bring them back to life, clone them a nice, healthy body.

Tommy Spinelli: Are you jerking me around?

Ernie: What? Oh my God. You just put welts and bruises over 90% of my body and now you're talking about having me help you decapitate some professor. WOULD I BE JERKING YOU AROUND?


Annette: [Tommy had just thrown Fern out of the van and off a cliff] Oh my God. I don't believe it. I thought the old battleaxe would never die.


Laurie: Charlie, I've got it. Fed Ex! Fed Ex them to Steve!

Charlie: We're in Mexico, Laurie. There is no Fed Ex.

Laurie: Well, Mex Ex them, I don't care!


Laurie: Let's call the police.

Charlie: No! We're in Mexico, Laurie. A Third-World country. You don't just call the police in a Third-World country and tell them you found eight human heads in your luggage.

Laurie: Why not?

Charlie: Because they have no laws here. They'll turn me into a taco.


Ernie: [roasting the coyote that ran away with a head] This doggy wont be doin' any more running away, I got him trained


Tommy Spinelli: Lady, you interrupt me one more time, you're gonna swallow this phone. Now get outta here!


Steve: Can we answer that? It might be Charlie!

Ernie: It might be Charl...

Tommy Spinelli: Put it on speakerphone.

Steve: Hello?

Charlie: Steve!

Steve: [in unison with Ernie, sighs with relief] Oh, Charlie, thank God! Jesu-

[he is cut off by Tommy]

Tommy Spinelli: Listen to me, you a-hole! You got my heads an' I wan'em back! Y'understand?


Tommy Spinelli: [to Steve and Ernie] I think it's time I got rid of you two and moved along.

[indicates with gun]

Tommy Spinelli: Come on. Come over here.

Steve: What? You can't just kill us! I mean, we're trying! We are trying...

Tommy Spinelli: [cuts Steve off] Trying? What are you talking about? What does this look like, the Special Olympics? I need the bag!

[waving gun]

Tommy Spinelli: Get over here!


Rico: Don't do anything stupid and nothing stupid will happen.


Tommy Spinelli: I thought I told that little sonofabitch to stay put!

Fern: So who are you, God? Why the hell should he listen to you?


Annette: [about a severed head] Looked like this guy I dated in high school, this Hugo... Hugo Porto. Ewww.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *